The Barcelona City Council has confirmed it will make an exception to the traditional calendar for switching off Christmas lights in Ciutat Vella, responding to a request from associations in the Gòtic and Casc Antic areas. This decision breaks with the general rule for the rest of the city, where the lighting is turned off after Epiphany.

The district councillor and Deputy Mayor for Security, Albert Batlle, explained that the main goal is twofold: firstly, to “improve the feeling of safety” in the narrower streets, and secondly, to support economic activity. Currently, the district is working to define the final list of the “small streets” that will benefit from the measure.

The formula for maintaining the lighting beyond the usual date is still being studied, including setting the specific calendar and switch-on schedule. What has been established is that the additional illumination will coincide with the winter season, on days with fewer daylight hours, to enhance the most capillary network of streets in Ciutat Vella.